Re: g_b Mails on this group are public ??

[Sanjay Lulla]

But then I have found mails from GB also along with G_B available on yahoo 
search.
Do a yahoo search on you name and POP you will find your mails. :)

Sanjay N Lulla

--- On Sun, 8/17/08, Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

From: Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: g_b Mails on this group are public ??
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, August 17, 2008, 7:13 PM






Ketan

Before I say anything else let me say you do a great job moderating this list 
and lots of us respect that a lot. 

However I just realised that all the mails written to the gay_bombay yahoogroup
are available without being a group member (and even without having any yahoo 
id whatsoever) by simply going to
mail-archive. com, for example the following address :

http://www.mail- archive.com/ gay_bombay@ yahoogroups. com/index. html#13666

I may be wrong but I do not remember being cautioned that what I post on this 
list will be mirrored to a completely public mail archive that can be easily 
found with a Google search.I feel cheated !

Are you aware of this archive - if it is being run without your authorization 
is there something you can do to stop it ? If you have authorized it or run it 
yourselves, can you please tell us why this is being done ? I am not 
comfortable with this situation and will not post to this group unless there is 
a solution that respects privacy and safe space. I believe there will be more 
members who will feel as upset as I do.

Thanks,
Salil
 = = = = ===

Some half a decade ago, Yahoo had made an annoucement about removing old 
emails/pics. also, much before you started writing , gaybombay list had been 
deleted by yahoo. it was then that some of us realised that we were at the 
mercy of yahoo as lists just disappared in good old days of egroups/yahoo.

i remember when gaybombay was struck off from the internet for some mysterious 
reasons, it took days and weeks of intense lobbying by vikram and many others 
with the higher ups of the yahoo to restore the list.

i took the decision that this list should not be at the mercy of yahoo which is 
known to have arbitrarily struck off hundreds of egroups/yahoogroups without so 
much of a notice. dazed by this many groups started subscribing to privately 
run egroups that charge--- like lyris and so on. 

when gaybombay was removed from internet, some leading lights of the group 
decided to archive the list on their respective hard disks/computers. i 
remember the task was divided among members .. so and so did so and so 
month/year. imagine archiving thousands of messages!

it was then that i decided to let mail archives do the job. a rich legacy of 
messages, thoughts and the life and times of hundreds of emails cannot be left 
at the mercy of yahoogroup adminstration, however great they are

the archival is run by stanford graduates and they do it is a matter of public 
service. the faqs of this service can be accessed at
http://www.mail- archive.com/ faq.html# privacy. 

if you read the homepage of gay_bombay group it very clearly states the 
archives link as does the web site.(http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/gay_ 
bombay/)

yes it easier to read the messages of this group on the archive . you hav a rss 
feed as well

but then it is not terribly complex for anyone to read any message of any yahoo 
group on the internet. for those who want to access archives all you have to do 
is become the group member and hey presto you can read messages. 

cheers 

moderator

 














  

Re: g_b Mails on this group are public ??

[RAJEEV]

Hi there,
  Btw which communicating system is absolute safe one? Probably being 
bounded into four walls of home, sweet home is the safest.

Rajeev.


--- On Mon, 18/8/08, Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> From: Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: g_b Mails on this group are public ??
> To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, 18 August, 2008, 1:09 AM
> Ketan,
> 
> Thanks for all that information, but it doesn't address
> my concern, which is privacy.
> 
> You are correct in saying that the link to the archive is
> mentioned on the group home page but nowhere does it say
> that the archive is publicly accessible though the yahoo
> group is not. I am not sure whether members realize that all
> the emails they send to this group are just a Google search
> away from non-members. It is certainly not made clear when
> one signs up, and since the group home page does not show
> messages to non-members, it lulls us into a sense that the
> list is not publicly readable. I can think right away of
> messages I have sent to this list which I would probably
> have not sent if I knew this. 
> 
> Other than plain squeamishness at being googled, there is
> also the concern over getting spammed at the email address
> one uses on this list - while the email address is not
> displayed on the archive, there is a button provided to
> email the writer of the email, and this opens a compose
> email box in my email client, with the email address of the
> person shown in it ! This is a very very insecure system,
> though the archivers chose to call it secure.
> 
> Does the mail-archive not allow you to restrict access to
> the archive -
> why would you want it to be accessible to non-members if
> your intention
> is to create just a memory backup not create a mirror site
> ?
> 
> Incidentally its odd that you arbitrarily assume that I
> started writing after the gb list disappearance drama
> happened - I had been writing for quite a few years when
> that happened.
> 
> Cheers
> Salil
> 
> 
> Here is what the archive people claim
> 
> What is your privacy policy?
> 
> The Mail Archive does not solicit personal information,
> does not try to identify individual visitors, and does not
> send out junk email. We comply with internet standard email
> headers which restrict or prohibit archiving. System logs
> record server activity, including IP addresses of visiting
> computers. These logs are stored for a limited time (less
> than 90 days) and used for troubleshooting, aggregate
> statistics, and performance tuning only. Questions regarding
> privacy issues should be sent to the support team. See also
> Can I delete a message from the archive?
> What about spamming?
> 
> Do not send unsolicited commercial email to any mailing
> list or individual in the archive. Spamming is expressly
> forbidden, and also illegal. The service is based in
> California, USA which has anti-spam laws, including
> California Penal Code Section 502 (added by Assembly Bill
> 1629 (1998), approved by Governor September 26, 1998),
> California Business and Professions Code, Division 7, Part
> 3, Chapter 1, Article 1.8 (added by S.B 186 (2003), approved
> September 23, 2003). We consider spammers a very serious
> threat to mailing lists, archiving and internet
> communication in general. The Mail Archive despises spam and
> will never send unsolicited email to any list or list member
> for any reason.
> 
> The Mail Archive utilizes two levels of electronic
> countermeasures to prevent spam incidents. First, we
> explicitly block spam harvesting robots (spambots) from
> accessing our server. We deny access, at the server level,
> for any software that matches the browser ID of a known
> spambot. Our second line of defense is to make sure that the
> web pages themselves are spambot resistant. We do not use
> any unshielded mailto: hyperlinks, email addresses and we
> strip out, scramble, or obfuscate email addresses from
> message headers and bodies. Yet we still provide a way for
> people to reply to an archived message, using their regular
> email software. This feat is achieved with a special POST
> protected CGI gateway which returns a mailto: URL to the
> user agent. This technique is extremely effective in
> blocking generic spam harvesting robots; for more
> information, see Mullane's Spambot Beware guide. The
> effectiveness of our spam-blocking preventative measures are
> monitored by spambot trap addresses like [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> and many others.
> 
> Despite all these steps, recognize that any time an
> email address is exposed on the internet, obfuscated or
> otherwise, spammers could potentially abuse it. Open mailing
> lists are vulnerable to spam attacks. Thus there is some
> risk associated with using The Mail Archive, and we do not
> assume any legal liability for spammers. Suggestions or
> feedback regarding privacy or anti-spamming enhancements are
> appreciated.
> 
> 
> and the archive

Re: g_b Fw: Why am I at August Kranti Maidan today?

[tapeshm]

Dear Moderator !!
We gay / s have indeed come a long way in India ! Tears ( yeah with a capital ' 
T ' ) rolling over my eyes !! laughable and emotional  indeed .
I yet remember sneaking into the ' Bombay dost ' office in Bandra to snatch a 
copy of the now defunct publication ! ( thats what I know - I could be wrong )
Infact Bombay dost indeed posted copies to me whilst my Saudi arabia days as I 
subscibed  ( daunting  task for me , as mails were routinely censured by the 
er.. Mullahs of Saudi arabia )
But then I was a rebel too .
Happy to hear & see , Mumbaikar's & Bhartiy'ad getting on the road & be proud !!
Coincidence - it was Soho pride in London today .
Good luck to all my fellow Mumbaikar's

Tapesh 
London 









> Message Received: Aug 17 2008, 07:14 AM
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: 
> Subject: Re: g_b Fw: Why am I at August Kranti Maidan today?
> 
> > 
If we were in India, we would join you in your march. 

 The most important move you can all make is OUT OF THE CLOSET.

Gordon and Jay from Santa Fe

> 
> 
> 


Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on 
AOL Autos.
 

Re: g_b Mails on this group are public ??

[Salil]

Ketan,

Thanks for all that information, but it doesn't address my concern, which is 
privacy.

You are correct in saying that the link to the archive is mentioned on the 
group home page but nowhere does it say that the archive is publicly accessible 
though the yahoo group is not. I am not sure whether members realize that all 
the emails they send to this group are just a Google search away from 
non-members. It is certainly not made clear when one signs up, and since the 
group home page does not show messages to non-members, it lulls us into a sense 
that the list is not publicly readable. I can think right away of messages I 
have sent to this list which I would probably have not sent if I knew this.

Other than plain squeamishness at being googled, there is also the concern over 
getting spammed at the email address one uses on this list - while the email 
address is not displayed on the archive, there is a button provided to email 
the writer of the email, and this opens a compose email box in my email client, 
with the email address of the person shown in it ! This is a very very insecure 
system, though the archivers chose to call it secure.

Does the mail-archive not allow you to restrict access to the archive -
why would you want it to be accessible to non-members if your intention
is to create just a memory backup not create a mirror site ?

Incidentally its odd that you arbitrarily assume that I started writing after 
the gb list disappearance drama happened - I had been writing for quite a few 
years when that happened.

Cheers
Salil


Here is what the archive people claim

What is your privacy policy?

The Mail Archive does not solicit personal information, does not try to 
identify individual visitors, and does not send out junk email. We comply with 
internet standard email headers which restrict or prohibit archiving. System 
logs record server activity, including IP addresses of visiting computers. 
These logs are stored for a limited time (less than 90 days) and used for 
troubleshooting, aggregate statistics, and performance tuning only. Questions 
regarding privacy issues should be sent to the support team. See also Can I 
delete a message from the archive?
What about spamming?

Do not send unsolicited commercial email to any mailing list or individual 
in the archive. Spamming is expressly forbidden, and also illegal. The service 
is based in California, USA which has anti-spam laws, including California 
Penal Code Section 502 (added by Assembly Bill 1629 (1998), approved by 
Governor September 26, 1998), California Business and Professions Code, 
Division 7, Part 3, Chapter 1, Article 1.8 (added by S.B 186 (2003), approved 
September 23, 2003). We consider spammers a very serious threat to mailing 
lists, archiving and internet communication in general. The Mail Archive 
despises spam and will never send unsolicited email to any list or list member 
for any reason.

The Mail Archive utilizes two levels of electronic countermeasures to 
prevent spam incidents. First, we explicitly block spam harvesting robots 
(spambots) from accessing our server. We deny access, at the server level, for 
any software that matches the browser ID of a known spambot. Our second line of 
defense is to make sure that the web pages themselves are spambot resistant. We 
do not use any unshielded mailto: hyperlinks, email addresses and we strip out, 
scramble, or obfuscate email addresses from message headers and bodies. Yet we 
still provide a way for people to reply to an archived message, using their 
regular email software. This feat is achieved with a special POST protected CGI 
gateway which returns a mailto: URL to the user agent. This technique is 
extremely effective in blocking generic spam harvesting robots; for more 
information, see Mullane's Spambot Beware guide. The effectiveness of our 
spam-blocking preventative measures are monitored by spambot trap addresses 
like [EMAIL PROTECTED] and many others.

Despite all these steps, recognize that any time an email address is 
exposed on the internet, obfuscated or otherwise, spammers could potentially 
abuse it. Open mailing lists are vulnerable to spam attacks. Thus there is some 
risk associated with using The Mail Archive, and we do not assume any legal 
liability for spammers. Suggestions or feedback regarding privacy or 
anti-spamming enhancements are appreciated.


and the archives are public. but then as i said,  even without this archives, 
anyone can  read any message of any yahoo group  by subscribing.

and i stand corrected if you were around some seven years ago and writing. my 
memory is not what it used to be:)

regards

moderator

g_b Gay Parade on Mumbai's Road

[nicky b]

Please find below link to viedo of Mumbai's first Gay Parade..
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k2yGwnJCFTnrNTJuVv
Nick


  

g_b bOllywood hUnks

[nicky b]

bOllywood hUnks


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  

   


  

g_b Walk of Life

[nicky b]

The first explosion of gay pride in Mumbai appeared as though the parade would 
be more like a small gathering, rather than an impressive number that 
represented the gay community of India that includes lesbians, gays, bisexuals 
and transgenders.

But once the parade was underway, the crowds doubled with many people joining 
mid-way. There were spectators who had collected simply to gawk, curiosity writ 
on their faces. The TV channels and the print media were in full force. 


The foreign press was surprised by the size of the parade and asked about the 
strength of the gay community in India â" a question no one had a real answer 
for.

A lot of participants were disappointed by their peers who chose to stay at 
home. Said a guy who wore a mask, "Maybe if there was less media coverage, 
there would have been more people. A lot of people in the community are open 
about their sexuality but their families are unaware. And in cases that family 
members are aware, they do not want their neighbours and relatives to know, so 
a lot of my friends skipped the parade."

There were more men than women in the parade, but what women lacked in numbers 
they made up in spirit. Especially the group carrying a gigantic rainbow flag 
from Delhi and those who sang in Gujarati. 


Drag queens in boas and tiaras and women in hats and colourful masks â" simply 
everyone was making a statement. 


There was an air of festivity among the participants, sponsors and spectators 
alike. It was a fun march spiked with interesting slogans like: 'Hindu, Muslim, 
Sikh Isayi, Homo Hetero bhai bhai'.

Everyone wanted the first parade to end peacefully and it did. Already the 
group is talking about adding two wheelers and floats to next year's event. 


But we are still ages away from the parade being a government-funded event 
which also attracts corporate sponsors. In many countries, the pride parade is 
promoted as a major tourist attraction for the host city and Pride parades are 
now also called Pride Festivals. 


Some of these festivals have a regular carnival with information booths, music 
concerts, barbecues, beer stands, contests, sports and games. Will we ever get 
there?


  

g_b What a march!

[nitin . karani]

Congrats, Mumbai!
You put up a great show of queer azaadi this afternoon. What a brilliant mix of 
people and groups. Great songs, dances, dresses, colour, glitter, slogans and 
lots of josh.
All went off smoothly and on time. And the rain gods were on our side. The 
media was in full strength and got more than it's share of sound bytes. 
Expecting good post-event coverage.
It was great to see people come from all over the country-including pune, 
nagpur, baroda, surat, delhi, ajmer and even guwahati. There's no place to be 
gay like Bombay! 
Nitin Karani
The Humsafar Trust
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device


Group Site:

http://www.gaybombay.in
http://www.gaybombay.info
==
This message was posted to the gay_bombay Yahoo! Group. Responses to messages 
(by clicking "Reply") will also be posted on the eGroup and sent to all 
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please compose and send a new email message to the author's email address.

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g_b Pride, no prejudice

[nicky b]

'I can't even write straight'
â" Banner at Mumbai's first Gay Pride
Mumbai's first ever gay pride march that took off from the historic August 
Kranti Maidan yesterday afternoon and wound up at Girgaum Chowpatty in two 
hours made such a powerful statement for the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and 
Transgender (LGBT) community in the city that even the roar of the South Mumbai 
traffic could not drown it out. 

QAM without qualms
Mumbai's Gay Pride, dubbed as Queer Azadi March (QAM) came one day after 
Independence Day, which was symbolic as it gave greater voice to the primary 
aim â" freedom from Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that 
criminalises homosexuality. 

Rainbow season
The rainbows (a symbol of the gay movement) seemed to have descended to earth 
yesterday as the Maidan on Gowalia Tank became a hub of shouting colour. Gays 
and lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders and straight supporters wore rainbow hats 
and waved rainbow flags as they congregated for the 2 pm start.

Lingo of love
Several participants wore t-shirts that spoke of battling closed attitudes and 
urging acceptance. One woman had: 'Behind every brave woman is a whole 
community telling her she is wrong' while a young man wore one that read: 'I 
speak Gaylic, just another language of love' . 

Legging it 
One could feel a sense of pride (pun intended) in the air as people thronged 
the maidan waiting for actress Celina Jaitley to flag off the march. Even a 
broken leg could not stop Shobhana, an expatriate who lives in Mumbai from 
coming to the march. "I hope somebody is present to push my wheelchair," she 
laughed, adding that the event had surpassed expectations.

Son-shine days
The gay community had a huge support base. A special doff of the rainbow hat, 
though, goes to a lady called Gaver who was at the march to support her 
32-year-old gay son, Harpreet. Harpreet's sister Geetanjali was present too and 
what better way to illustrate the brother-sister relationship on raksha bandhan 
day, one thought. A woman Harwant Kaur was present too to support her gay 
nephew. 

Poster boy prince
After much jostling thanks to Jaitley's entrance, the marchers were off, with 
gay prince of Gujarat Manavendra Sinh Gohil who has become a poster boy for the 
movement, giving a speech that asked the English to apologise for foisting 
Section 377 on India. Gujarati songs rent the air and the procession set off 
with the only son and heir to the fortunes of the former Rajpipla principality, 
saying, "I represent the gay community of Gujarat".

Sobering thoughts
Underneath the carnival, Mardi-Gras like atmosphere, with the costumes sending 
the cameramen in a tizzy, the homophobia and hate that the group battles daily 
were sobering thoughts. Some event organisors like Vikram Doctor Geeta Kumana 
faced these even while seeking permissions for the march from various 
authorities. Transgender Laxmi did talk about the kind of things the community 
had to hear while asking for the green light for the march. 

Same sex marriage?
As the marchers reached Chowpatty, one realised that while so many countries in 
the West are debating same-sex marriages, here we are still talking about a law 
criminalising homosexuality. The overall feeling though was that of triumph. 
This Pride is a milestone for the gay community here. Slowly and inevitably the 
walls of opposition will come down. Like a Pride placard said: 'I am here, I am 
queer, get used to it'.


  

Re: g_b Medis reports on the lgbt march in mumbai

[nirbokj]

Your report of the Bombay Gay Pride parade brings me back many years.
 
We marched years ago in the New York City Pride parade, which started  uptown 
at 57th Street at Bergdorf Goodman's and proceeded down Fifth Avenue to  
Greenwich Village, at a snail's pace.
 
We marched with The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Group.   This group of 
dedicated lawyers and supporters has defended many gay people and  causes in 
the courts.  It has achieved many goals in its 25 years, and  proves that the 
one sure way to our Equality is thru the courts.
 
There were also varied other groups: from Dykes on Bikes (quite a spectacle  
as bare-chested dykes vwraoomed down Fifth on their Harleys)PFLAG ( 
Parents and friends of Lesbians and Gay), our mothers, fathers,  brothers and 
sisters,  and PWA (People with Aids).. Oh how it broke my  heart to see a 
former 
lover in that group.
 
A Million strong..  AND MILLIONS MORE ON THE SIDELINES CHEERING US  ON.
 
But then, when we passed SAINT PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, that neo-Gothic bastion  
of conservative Catholicism, where we were greeted with signs and booing 
chants  all declaring that we were the dammed of Satan.
--

 
And now, years later, years of some progress for our movement, we still see  
"one step forward, and two steps backward."  Same sex marriage is now legal  
in Massachusetts and California, and same sex rights are honored by many of our 
 leading corporations...but our potential Presidents have both struck a blow 
by  negating that ultimate right to us in their campaign speeches 
yesterday...not to  mention women's rights and abortion.
 
And Where were these speeches?  In an Evangelical Christian  Church!  ( These 
bigots make up 24% of our voters, and their hatred must be  preserved.)
 
So, have courage my brothers and sisters in India, the "best" is yet to  come!
 
Love,  Gordon and Jay from Santa Fe



**Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? 
Read reviews on AOL Autos.  
(http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?ncid=aolaut000307
 )

Re: g_b Happy new year

[nirbokj]

Amen.



**Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? 
Read reviews on AOL Autos.  
(http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?ncid=aolaut000307
 )

g_b Medis reports on the lgbt march in mumbai

[lgbtindiagroup]

TIMES OF INDIA
'This minority's struggle for freedom is still on'
17 Aug 2008, 0602 hrs IST,TNN


'This minority's struggle for freedom is still on'

Mumbai: Geeta Kumana of Anchal, one of the organisers along with
groups such as GayBombay, Labia, Salvation Star and Symphony in Pink,
said the response to the gay pride parade was overwhelming . "The idea
was to provide visibility to sexual minorities, especially those from
small towns, who are harassed, forced into arranged marriages and who
face discrimination on account of their sexuality ,'' said the activist.

Advocate Anand Grover of the advocacy group Lawyers' Collective talked
about the havoc that the law has wrecked on the lives of gay persons
who are HIV positive. "HIV is transmitted among groups that are not
empowered, and it is difficult to work in a community that is
effectively treated as criminal,'' said Grover.

The parade had a sprinkling of Bollywood personalities who came out in
support of the cause. "Section 377 has to go,'' said actress Celina
Jaitley , who was at the march in a colourful costume with wings, in
remembrance of a gay friend who died recently. Reema Kagti, director
of last year's hit movie 'Honeymoon Travels Ltd' which has two gay
characters, echoed the sentiment . "The mark of a civilised society is
the way it treats its minorities and it is time India allows its
lesbian and gay citizens to lead dignified and honest lives,'' said Kagti.

For the last four years there have been gay pride celebrations on
August 16 in Mumbai. The day after Independence Day was deliberately
chosen to symbolise that this minority's freedom struggle is still on.
Said designer Krsna Mehta, "It's fascinating that such a simple idea
has become this festive celebration, and though it may not be as
glamourous as the ones in New York and San Francisco we are getting
there.''

NDTV


Mumbai gays hit streets demanding rights


Mumbai gays hit streets demanding rights
Prachi Jawadekar Wagh
Saturday, August 16, 2008, (Mumbai)
Just a day after Independence Day, Mumbai's sexual minorities took to
the streets for a freedom struggle of their own. Their target: Section
377 which states that homosexuality is illegal.

And out in the pride parade were unknown as well as known faces from
not just the gay community but all sexual minorities.

"We are doing it from August Kranti Maidan because we are still
waiting for our Independence. India has been free for 61 years, but
what do we have? We have Section 377," says an activist Laxmi.

The march in Mumbai was close on the heels of the gay parade in Delhi
Bangalore and Calcutta this June.

All timed to strengthen the case against Section 377 which is now in
the final stages of hearing in Delhi High Court.

With Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss going on record that
homosexuality should be legalised it's a push in the right direction.

This is probably the boldest way the queer community has ever come
out. And it intrigued many onlookers.

"It's a gay parade and I guess they are fighting for their rights,"
says Amrit Prakash, a bank employee.


But the law may take its time to come around. Until then, for these
campaigners it's a long march ahead so that some day these pride
marches will be able to drop their masks and walk free.
==
India comes of out the closet
Katie Daubs, Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, August 17, 2008

MUMBAI - In a swirl of rainbow flags and feathered masks, India's most
populated city came out of the closet yesterday.

Technically, it happened when the city's first-ever gay pride parade
began amid a frenzy of camera flashes.

But if we're going on pure emotion, the real moment might have been
after the parade, when It's Raining Men came on a jukebox in a south
Mumbai café and men in rainbow cowboy hats jumped up and sang in the
restaurant's busy aisles. The diners clapped, cheered and raised their
glasses in salute.


More than 550 marched in Mumbai's first-ever gay pride parade
yesterday, although many wore masks to hide their identities.View



In the weeks leading up to the parade, many believed the event would
be cancelled for lack of a permit. On Friday evening, with less than
24 hours before the parade was to begin, the police issued the permit.

A section of India's Penal Code established by the British in the 19th
century and still in use today classifies homosexual relationships and
desires as criminal acts. Although it is rarely enforced, section 377
has forced Mumbai's gay and lesbian community to exist underground.

"It's the fear of the law that matters more than the law itself," said
Vikram Doctor, one of the parade organizers. "It's a blackmail racket."

Organizers expected 200 people at yesterday's parade. More than 550
marched, although many wore feathered masks to conceal their identities.

"We're really happy and surprised," said Mr. Doctor. "It's very
important to th

Re: g_b i wanna stay alive one more night

[vikas khanna]

Guys,
 
I read through this whole mail - I think all of us need to read it at least 
once. Aryan, or whoever you are, I could feel what you expressed between those 
words and lines - believe me a trickle of tear just popped out of my eye - I 
cant promise you love - But I will be there for you as a true friend any time 
you need one.
Yes I am 43 years old and my heart still goes out for you
 
love
viki

--- On Sat, 8/16/08, aryan_sri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

From: aryan_sri <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: g_b i wanna stay alive one more night
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2008, 4:36 PM






everynight like an angel or free spirit
with lots of hope n desries i just keep pushing my luck to find a 
person who can commit to me 

i am sumit
23
pure gay
stay in mumbai
look ordinary
not that bad 

never i wish to go to gay partys 
yuck i dont like them 

let me to tell u people about my journey of gay life
i m basically a very reserved person
who leaves in a shell
but u give me a pc or pen my thought process as no limits 

i carve for a boy friend
my first crush was sanjay jain
sweet boy
when i was 18
he somehow realised i was falling in love wid him 
so he distanced himself
that was a year of great pain n suffering
yet of so much extravagant n out of world experince 
n my family came to know i am gay 

i lost a lifetime friend
phew
then after three years i graduated n there was this guy 
named anand
n i had sex wid him on the montains
n surrounded by suspicious villager
but no hardcore
some how i thought he enjoyed it more than me 

the relationship i had wid anand contiued in one mor encounter at ma 
house
he started n finished the act
but again it was no hardcore 

that was the only guy i ever had sex with 
last time when he came to ma house my mom was there so i could only 
manage a kiss
n he kikced me for that on my bottom as he was straight n were 
freinds for 3 years
again i lost a friend
of lifetime i dont know y as i could never speak wid him again 

after that i got a job
and in jan 2008
i got confidence to be a open gay
after having a job for say 5 months 

i meet atleast 8 guys from g 4m n orkut
good human beings
all offerd for sex
but i am such a sweetheart
i go for true love only
such a waste naa 

still i try ma best to message people 
n post threads 
getting response from srilanka to usa
chaanigrah to ratnagiri
aurangabad to karnataka
i m not a rich guy or else i could have travelled this places
now only option i have is to post on this forums 

there was this guy who was ready n very authentic
from i suppose
delhi n had home in up 
guy called nihar
he was a huge guy
i could have got him anytime
i was just scared of him
he was the only guy i thought was geniune till i met
pawan 

now this guy pawan is a good friend
but he will marry a girl because he is afraid
of society 
when i started to write this thread i told to ma self
i will be positive but i m not crying like a baby
i cant go out stand at vt 
or dadar or churhgate wearing a t shirt
saying I AM PROUD TO BE GAY 
I CANT DO IT 

ohh mama
but i motivate ma self each passing night
that one fine moring atleast 1 guy
age no bar 
looks no bar
caste no bar
tell u i m a very spiritual guy
will message me i still have hope
thats the only purpose of ma existence
i dont want to be ambitious or head of company 
i just starve for a guy who can commit to me
and accept my unconditional love
a walk near seashore
a talk in coffe shop
a laugh in the rain
i think it is not tooo much to ask for
i m not giving up yet
as i want live ma life atleast wid one guy
for say few moments
which i can cherish till ma last breath 

amin 

i want to live for one more night
i am afraid of death now
because before i die
i want to be in ma guys arms 
i will live for u 

this is how my profile read on orkut 
during my last few days on orkut

about me:
in the pursuit of happiness i carved so much till i realised it is 
inside me 
time is a great leveller
so much as changed in this life for good and better future 
one learns so much each passing day 
life is meaningful with art of living
please contact me on yahoo
[EMAIL PROTECTED] com
love u all dears and sweethearts 

it was a beautiful experience in this world of true human beings 
I TALKED WITH GOOD PEOPLE 
WHO WERE GREAT AT HEART BUT TIME AS COME TO TAKE SOLID DECISION IN MY 
LIFE
GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE WHO TOOK THEIR PRECIOUS TIME RESPONDING 
ME
I M AN AVERAGE GUY WHO THRIVED FOR PURE LOVE AND TRUE VALENTINE AND 
FRIEND
MY FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS AND PURE LOVE WILL NEVER LET ME FORGET THIS 
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IN MY JOURNEY OF LIFE AS ARYAN 
I KEPT EVERY THING AT STAKE TO FIND MY TRUE PARTNER AND TRUE LOVE 
MY FAMILY 
CARRIER AND LIFE TO ENTER
THIS WORLD OF ORKUT
INTRESTINGLY I WILL LOG OUT OF THIS WONDERFUL WORLD WITH NO REGRETS 
AND NO DISAPPOINTMENTS
AS I BELIVE I WILL FIND MY TRUE AND PURE LOVE ON SOME GOOD DAY IN LIFE
ANY ONE WHO WISH TO BE MY VALENTINE OR LIFE PARTNER CAN E MAIL ME 

Re: g_b LGBT march report

[nirbokj]

Hallelulia !!!
 
So great to hear that the Bombay March was a sucess.  Next year it  will be a 
million marching !
 
Love from Santa Fe,
 
Gordon and Jay



**Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? 
Read reviews on AOL Autos.  
(http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?ncid=aolaut000307
 )

g_b Music Song by: Black Moses Music (Isaac Hayes)!!!

[Mimo69]

 Don't walk in front of me,
I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me,
I may not lead.
Just walk beside me...
And be my Friend.
Mimo. 

 

"Walk on By" - (Dionne Warwick sang this in 1964. 5 years ago before his)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=0XIIivxCtzM
 
The Look Of love - (This was sampled by so many rap artists)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=lda2v5399BA

Shaft (Who can't forget this. Shut Yo Mouth!)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=tZzBrxj- Gjo

I Stand Accused - (A beautiful ballad)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=9GWWNxBNlyQ

Hyperbolicsyll Abicsesquedaly Mystic - (PE Sampled It)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=dkosOU2fmvE

Ellie's Love Theme - Shaft
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=yL5QBpvpPvg

Do Your Thing 
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=lWD3RJGCof4

Don't Let Go - (A Disco Favorite)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=O3x-2Ld513A 
 


  

Re: g_b Re: gb Happy new year

[Praful Baweja]

Hey salil,  Pateti is last day of parsi  calendar nd Navroze is the
first day of new year. Though  i am not parsi, have many parsi
friends. Hope this helps,  Cheers, Praful

-- 
Godspeed,
Praful Baweja

g_b Mails on this group are public ??

[Salil]

Ketan



Before I say anything else let me say you do a great job moderating this list 
and lots of us respect that a lot.

However I just realised that all the mails written to the gay_bombay yahoogroup
are available without being a group member (and even without having any yahoo 
id whatsoever) by simply going to
mail-archive.com, for example the following address :





http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com/index.html#13666





I may be wrong but I do not remember being cautioned that what I post on this 
list will be mirrored to a completely public mail archive that can be easily 
found with a Google search.I feel cheated !

Are you aware of this archive - if it is being run without your authorization 
is there something you can do to stop it ? If you have authorized it or run it 
yourselves, can you please tell us why this is being done ? I am not 
comfortable with this situation and will not post to this group unless there is 
a solution that respects privacy and safe space. I believe there will be more 
members who will feel as upset as I do.

Thanks,
Salil
===


Some half a decade ago, Yahoo had made an annoucement about removing old 
emails/pics. also, much before you started writing , gaybombay list had been 
deleted by yahoo. it was then that some of us realised that we were at the 
mercy of yahoo as lists just disappared in good old days of egroups/yahoo.

i remember when gaybombay was struck off  from the internet for some mysterious 
reasons,  it took days and weeks of intense lobbying by vikram and many others 
with the higher ups of the yahoo to restore the list.

i took the decision that this list should not be at the mercy of yahoo which is 
known to have arbitrarily struck off hundreds of egroups/yahoogroups without so 
much of a notice. dazed by this many groups started subscribing to privately 
run egroups that charge--- like lyris and so on.

when gaybombay was removed from internet, some leading lights of the group 
decided to archive the list on their respective hard disks/computers.  i 
remember the task was divided among members .. so and so did so and so 
month/year. imagine archiving  thousands of messages!

it  was then that i decided to let mail archives do the job.  a rich legacy of 
messages, thoughts and the life and times of hundreds of emails cannot be left 
at the mercy of yahoogroup adminstration, however great they are


the archival is run by stanford graduates and they do it is a matter of public 
service. the faqs of this service can be accessed at
http://www.mail-archive.com/faq.html#privacy.


if you read the homepage of gay_bombay group it very clearly states the 
archives link as does the web site.(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/)

yes it easier to read the messages of this group on the archive . you hav a rss 
feed as well

but then it is not terribly complex for anyone to read any message of any yahoo 
group on the internet.  for those who want to access archives all you have  to 
do is become the group member and hey presto you can read messages.


cheers

moderator

Re: g_b Re: gb Happy new year

[asfan]

Salil,
 
Pateti is the last day of the old year. Navroze is New Year's day.
Somehow,  down the way, Navroze has been wrongly termed as Pateti.
And it has stuck that way!
 
Have a nice holiday on the 19th!
 
Asfan.

--- On Sun, 17/8/08, Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

From: Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: g_b Re: gb Happy new year
To: "Gaybombay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, 17 August, 2008, 4:55 PM











Asfan,

I have been brought up thinking that the Parsi new year is called both Pateti 
and Navroze, and is a single day whose chief import for non-Parsis is a free 
holiday.

Can you please educate us on the difference between Pateti and Navroze ? I 
suppose I could get an answer if I googled for it, but then I would rather get 
it on this list.

Thanks
Salil


--- On Sun, 17/8/08, asfan <[EMAIL PROTECTED] com> wrote:

From: asfan <[EMAIL PROTECTED] com>
Subject: gb Happy new year
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ps.com
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ups.com
Date: Sunday, 17 August, 2008, 8:29 AM




Wishing all Zoroastrians and the whole wide world a very happy Pateti (18th) 
and a very happy Navroze (19th). 
 
 May the coming new year see the repeal of 377. Amen.
 
Love,
 
Asfan.


Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Invite them now.
 














  Cricket on your mind? Visit the ultimate cricket website. Enter 
http://in.sports.yahoo.com/cricket/

Re: g_b Re: gb Happy new year

[Sanjay Desai]

hi
sm to u ..
love u dr frends
re..
sanjay

--- On Sun, 17/8/08, Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

From: Salil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: g_b Re: gb Happy new year
To: "Gaybombay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, 17 August, 2008, 11:25 AM











Asfan,

I have been brought up thinking that the Parsi new year is called both Pateti 
and Navroze, and is a single day whose chief import for non-Parsis is a free 
holiday.

Can you please educate us on the difference between Pateti and Navroze ? I 
suppose I could get an answer if I googled for it, but then I would rather get 
it on this list.

Thanks
Salil


--- On Sun, 17/8/08, asfan <[EMAIL PROTECTED] com> wrote:

From: asfan <[EMAIL PROTECTED] com>
Subject: gb Happy new year
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ps.com
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ups.com
Date: Sunday, 17 August, 2008, 8:29 AM




Wishing all Zoroastrians and the whole wide world a very happy Pateti (18th) 
and a very happy Navroze (19th). 
 
 May the coming new year see the repeal of 377. Amen.
 
Love,
 
Asfan.


Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Invite them now.
 














  Did you know? You can CHAT without downloading messenger. Go to 
http://in.webmessenger.yahoo.com/

g_b Re: gb Happy new year

[Salil]

Asfan,

I have been brought up thinking that the Parsi new year is called both Pateti 
and Navroze, and is a single day whose chief import for non-Parsis is a free 
holiday.

Can you please educate us on the difference between Pateti and Navroze ? I 
suppose I could get an answer if I googled for it, but then I would rather get 
it on this list.

Thanks
Salil


--- On Sun, 17/8/08, asfan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: asfan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: gb Happy new year
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, 17 August, 2008, 8:29 AM











Wishing all Zoroastrians and the whole wide world a very happy 
Pateti (18th) and a very happy Navroze (19th). 

 

 May the coming new year see the repeal of 377. Amen.

 

Love,

 

Asfan.

 

















  Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on 
http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/

g_b [QAM] pics and press coverage

[nitin . karani]

Here are some pix found on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/firozeshakir/tags/gayparademumbai2008
Thx to Bhushan for the tip.

I have hard copies of coverage in the local english, hindi and marathi press. 
Will post links or scans to the queerazaadi.wordpress.com blog over the next 2 
days. If anyone has any other links, please post to groups.

Cheers,
Nitin 
Sent from my BlackBerry� wireless device

-Original Message-
From: "J D" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:27:11 
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; 
; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [QAM] Re: What a march!


can we have all the media coverage and press clipings compiled for our
record purposes

2008/8/16 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

> Congrats, Mumbai!
> You put up a great show of queer azaadi this afternoon. What a brilliant
> mix of people and groups. Great songs, dances, dresses, colour, glitter,
> slogans and lots of josh.
> All went off smoothly and on time. And the rain gods were on our side. The
> media was in full strength and got more than it's share of sound bytes.
> Expecting good post-event coverage.
> It was great to see people come from all over the country-including pune,
> nagpur, baroda, surat, delhi, ajmer and even guwahati. There's no place to
> be gay like Bombay!
> Nitin Karani
> The Humsafar Trust
> Sent from my BlackBerry(R) wireless device
> >
>


-- 
Best Regards

Jaymin Dalal
Mobile- +91(0)9930355670

--~--~-~--~~~---~--~~
"To know more about Queer Azadi, click the link below" 
http://queerazaadi.wordpress.com
-~--~~~~--~~--~--~---

g_b LGBT march report

[lgbtindiagroup]

Report

16th August 2008

India's first ever consolidated LGBT rights March rocked. Over 500 +
persons marched from Mumbai's Azad Maidan to Chowpaty beach today on
Rakshabandhan day. That it was a colorful march is an understatement.
It rocked and every conceivable colour created a huge rainbow of people.

The slogans on the placards were innovative. For example, in Marathi
one said "Prem Manje Prem Asto, Tumcha, Aamcha Same Asto (Love is
love, your love and our love is same)

Another one said "Chalon A Ze Droit D'aimer. The woman carrying the
placard had no clue what it meant, not that I do. But what the heck.
It was asking for LGBT rights or something to that effect,  I presumed.

To get a feel of what passerby and onlookers thought of the march, I
sidled up to a cop and asked him in Marathi as to what the march was
all about. "Homo, Homo", he said very helpfully and I could not help
laugh at his description of the march. One Gujju girl on the bridge
adjoining the beach was telling her friend "jaldi aav, gays loko no
march che (come fast, gays are marching). 

Prince Manvendra told me that the march from Azad Maidan was symbolic
because the British were told to quit India from the same place. It
was time for discrimination against: LGBT and Section 377 to go as
well he added

The  Mumbai LGBT populace and many from nook and corners of India were
out in full force. Some film stars came for a while and the
omnipresent Laxmi Tripathi  gave competition to Celina Jaitely posing
with élan for the cameras which were in plenty.

Even the rain gods were on our side… it did not rain though  the sky
looked  overcast throughout. 

Felt absolutely great to march and mingle with our people. 

A great day for the LGBT in India.

Regards

Ketan
Moderator
gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com

ps: had been clicking  pics fast and furious.. have some nice pics of
the  march will be uploading them later

Re: g_b We are gay!...

[Sanjay Lulla]

guys its not a gay story it seems like but it smaybe a pickup from chuck meets 
larry, inspired :)

 Sanjay N Lulla



- Original Message 
From: nicky b <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Hiren G <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Shree <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; gb gb <[EMAIL 
PROTECTED]>; g j <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; G_B ; Pak g 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 9:30:38 AM
Subject: g_b We are gay!...


Mumbai: The 60-second trailer of Dharma Productions' Dostana is the most 
controversial Hindi film promo in the history of Bollywood. 

The video shows leading men Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham as lovers. 
HiTLIST got a sneak preview of the clipping, which hits theatres today along 
with Bachna Ae Haseeno, and on www.dharmaproductio ns.com

Here's how it goes...

The promo opens with the signature Dharma tune of Kal Ho Na Ho, with the Miami 
skyline and a pink convertible speeding on an open road. Soon, the mellow tune 
gives way to a bouncy hip-hop number, and a bare-bodied John Abraham emerges 
from the water in yellow trunks. Without wasting much time, the promo then cuts 
the scene where John and Abhishek are doing the tango, with Bachchan Jr, 
holding a rose in his teeth. In another scene John announces to a woman, "Hum 
gay hain!" and pointing to Abhishek adds, "Yeh mera boyfriend hai!"

As gay as they come  

This is the first time that a mainstream Bollywood film with big actors has 
based its entire storyline around the gay theme. There are multiple shots of 
John and Abhishek romancing each other, holding hands, blowing kisses, hugging 
and even lying on top of each other! It's blatantly evident that of the two, 
Abhishek's character is more camp while John is the man in the relationship. 
It's hard to miss the two dressed up in sailor outfits, an ode to the fantasies 
of a gay man. 

Priyanka heats up the promo in a stunning gold swimsuit on the Miami beach. 
Towards the end, there's another closer bare-bodied shot of John coming out of 
the ocean.  

B-town jodis, be very scared!

Interestingly, the 60-second promo doesn't go OTT or crack lame jokes on the 
gay community. The tone of the teaser is that of festivity, fun and frolic. 
John and Abhishek's on-screen romance will give many hot Bollywood jodis a run 
for their money. 

Why Gay?
Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham pretend to be gay to rent a room. The  
landlady doesn't let the place out to bachelors, therefore the act.
 


  

g_b DNAIndia.com : Sure you can protest, just plan months ahead

[salilmumbai]

This message was sent to you by [EMAIL PROTECTED],
as a service of dnaindia.com

--
Comments from sender : 

--


Full Story can be found at
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1183693


Sure you can protest, just plan months ahead
 By - Labonita Ghosh 

I want to put out a random checklist for first-time organisers of
marches and commemorative rallies in Mumbai (and this is strictly a
recent-resident's point of view). If you plan to hold a
protest/celebratory event that calls for peaceful walking, some slogans,
some songs, a little bit of mild, non-drunken dancing in the streets,
maybe an open-top car or a small float, here's what you need to watch
out for, when trying to get permission: 1) Do rounds and rounds and
rounds of offices, till your feet create deep grooves in the
marble-floored corridors of officialdom; 2) Be afraid, be very afraid,
if everything goes smoothly, and you get a clean, no-strings-attached
go-ahead from the powers that be; and 3) If there's even a hint of some
'unsavoury' association (definition unspecified, and ever-changing),
brace for many a flip-flop

I state all this with some authority. I was recently helping friends
organise the Queer Azadi March (QAM), Mumbai's first celebratory and
public walk by its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
community that will (hopefully) take place today. 
After several days of being on tenterhooks about whether or not we would
get permission, we were told - in the space of 36 hours -"no", "maybe",
"yes", "no", and then, finally, "OK". When I narrated this sequence to
my out-of-town friends, their first reaction was: "Really? Why?" And
then: "Is it the ___ [insert right-wing party of choice]?" And then, the
kicker: "Can't believe this is happening in Mumbai." 

That's what I thought too. This isn't a whinge about homophobia (though
some would argue that in the case of QAM, there is a distinct whiff of
it). 

This is about Mumbai's liberal, cosmopolitan, all-accepting,
sab-chalta-hai image taking a mighty whack. At one of the early
meetings, where a strategy to get permission was being worked out, I
blurted out: "But what's the problem? Don't we have Dalit rallies,
protests against North Indians, meets to have more Marathi signboards?
And if Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata can have their Pride, surely it
would not be a problem in Mumbai?" 

My neighbour, a seasoned activist/protest-organiser gave me a pitying
look. And said, very slowly, as if summoning all her patience:
"This.is.not.Kolkata." 

In my hometown, where marches and protests were once a five-day week
affair, holding up traffic, moving at snails-speed so that every
passenger in every vehicle got a look at your placard and having a
gathering of 50 spread out to simulate a three-km line of protestors was
de rigeur. 

At rallies I have been a part of, we were actually asked to spread out
to cover the breadth of the road, even if there were only two of us in a
row. And it was anathema to not allow you to seriously inconvenience
daily commuters. 

Nobody stopped you, nobody rushed you, and the traffic constable
shrugged and wandered off to grab a paan. I have been stunned - and
pleased - at the orderliness of the handful of processions I have caught
in Mumbai. But it was only when I saw, up close, the work that goes
behind organising one, that the irony hit me. 

Mumbaikars can march, of course; they can have their free expression
through protests - as long as it's in a controlled manner. There's room
for spontaneous action - as long as you plan weeks ahead for it. 
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